Josh Willingham in Pinstripes?
Recently over at Bronx Baseball Daily, Dan took a look at Josh Willingham. The idea of Willingham in the Bronx intruiges me, so I reached out to the Washington Nationals SB Nation Blog, Federal Baseball, main writer, Edward Chigliak. Here is the interview, along with some extra commentary:
The main problems with Willingham are pretty obvious. The 30-year old is to be paid $4.6 million in 2010. The Yankees may be able to get Johnny Damon for less than that. The former catcher turned left fielder does have some upside to him, but it is mostly in non-important stats like away-batting average and indoor hitting. Willingham hit .300 vs. lefties last season, but only .265 career vs. lefties. Personally, I would not do it. If it was for ONLY Corona and Mitre? Yes. If it was for Nova, Corona, and Mitre? No. Thoughts?
UPDATE: 3:03 PM: Check here to see if the Federal Baseball readers would accept my trade offer.
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meh...
seems like he’s gonna cost too much. Doesn’t really seem LF caliber defensively..probably would mean that Swisher’s gotta go to LF?
I’d rather just go with Damon for the extra couple beans.
Its a nice alternative if the cost comes down…..
You've got to be very careful if you don't know where you are going, because you might not get there
No Way
there’s a much cheaper alternative on the market. He’s a so so fielder, is also on the wrong side of 30, and his name is Johnny Damon.
I’ll be really disappointed if they do this deal instead of bringing Damon back for 10MM.
I firmly believe that any man's finest hour, the greatest fulfillment of all that he holds dear, is that moment when he has worked his heart out in a good cause and lies exhausted on the field of battle - victorious.
Vince Lombardi
There are two things wrong with that piece
What is the Nats’ motivation behind moving Josh Willingham to sign a crappy Mike Jacobs (who made $3.3M last yr.) and his sub-par 1B glove and then shifting an all-around, defensively-challenged Adam Dunn to LF? That does not make any improvement of significance. It simply does not add up.
The prospect of trading away Aceves and Gaudin ($2.95M for ’10 – not cheap for the Nats) is too much pitching depth to give up for Willingham who will only marginal contributions in a lineup as deep as the Yankees.
Why am I not hearing anything about Eric Byrnes
Is he damaged goods? If no, then he would be a PERFECT option for a LF platoon with Gardy! And he comes cheap too! CASH…CHECK OUT E-BURN baby!
Damaged Goods
Byrnes hasn’t played 90 games since 2007. That year was also the only year in the last 5 seasons he’s hit at league average, and then he was just barely league average.
"Have faith in the Yankees, my son. Think of the great DiMaggio."
He doesn't hit lefties
Thats the main thing the Yankees are looking for
Writer for Pinstripe Alley.
"Today I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of this earth."
"So I close in saying that I may have had a tough break, but I have an awful lot to live for."
perfect?
Eric Byrnes hasn’t been average since 2007. Byrnes stinks…basically a slower RH hitting Gardner.
You've got to be very careful if you don't know where you are going, because you might not get there
by FreeBradshaw on Jan 24, 2010 11:18 AM EST up reply actions
Uh
Byrnes sucks. I see absolutely no reason for the Yankees to be interested in him. None.
by FloridaownsFSU on Jan 24, 2010 12:42 PM EST up reply actions
he does NOT come cheap
he’s owed 11 million.
by Frankie Camp on Jan 24, 2010 12:48 PM EST up reply actions
No
bring back Damon for a couple extra million. It’s more worth it. There are reports that the Yankees and Damon are talking again, so it’s possible he could be resigned. I sure hope so.
Damon>Willingham.
Willingham
He has great numbers against lefties, so he’d be a solid addition but I think the Nationals would be asking for more than it would be worth giving up for him.
by Let's Talk About Tex Baby on Jan 24, 2010 11:45 AM EST reply actions
Willingham>Damon
Willingham has put up very good numbers in pitchers parks while Damon has put up an OPS short of .800 on the road over the last 3 years. You would have to expect Willingham to have 50 OPS pts on Damon in a neutral park…at least.
Wouldn’t give up the farm for him but he would be an offensive upgrade over Damon and both are below average fielders. The six years age difference is a huge factor in Willingham’s court as well.
good point.
all comes down to cost, in terms of prospects.
Given age..his contract is much better then Damon, even at a reduced cost.
If the Nats tone down this request for major league ready pitching..which, while the Yankees have..its just in the form of high ceiling players..not average young starters with limited upside.
Willingham probably is a better option.
You've got to be very careful if you don't know where you are going, because you might not get there
by FreeBradshaw on Jan 24, 2010 12:24 PM EST up reply actions
Absolutely Damon over Willingham
Damon at $7MM or less for one year versus Willingham at $4.6MM is a no brainer… Damon wins without a doubt
Cash & Hal, bring Johnnie back and get ready for #28 in 2010.
by YANKEES FOREVER on Jan 24, 2010 11:59 AM EST reply actions
What's with all this "platoon" talk?
If Gardner isn’t capable of being the every day starter in Left, which he isn’t, then he shouldn’t be starting AT ALL. Obviously we all know this or we wouldn’t be talking of platooning him. We need Damon!
Run that by me again
If a player needs a platoon partner he should be relegated to bench duties?
Isn’t getting the most out of imperfect players the point of a platoon?
I don’t think Gardner needs a platoon partner, but I’m not crazy about our outfield depth if one of Granderson, Swisher or Gardner goes down or has an extended slump (Grand Central may need a caddy for strong lefties, too).
"Have faith in the Yankees, my son. Think of the great DiMaggio."
"(Grand Central may need a caddy for strong lefties, too)."
Which is the only reason I view Reed Johnson as a fit on the Yankee roster.
Not to platoon with Gardner. LF should be for Damon.
by FloridaownsFSU on Jan 24, 2010 4:13 PM EST up reply actions
I don't think
the Yankees are going into the season with a starting left fielder with whom they’re going to have to platoon with another player. I hope they have other plans than starting Gardner.
they did it in 2009....
why not 2010?
LF plays right next to CF…they planned on doing it with Melky and Gardner in 2009..and did.
Now they do it with Gardner and Hoffman, or someone else if they beat out Hoffman.
So…given the FACT they’ve done if before…they could do it again..for the second year in a row actually….
You've got to be very careful if you don't know where you are going, because you might not get there
by FreeBradshaw on Jan 25, 2010 9:38 AM EST up reply actions
That was with
Melky. If you think Gardner and Hoffman compares to Melky you’re mistaken. Hoffman? Come on.
overrating Melky much?
You've got to be very careful if you don't know where you are going, because you might not get there
by FreeBradshaw on Jan 25, 2010 12:25 PM EST up reply actions
The Hammer
always liked the guy as a Marlin, but I wouldn’t be keen on any Willingham trade if the cost was any significant (and Willingham’s bat possess a good deal of value).
About "Jordan Zimmerman quality"
That doesn’t necessarily mean the #1 pitcher in the system. It means a player with a similar ceiling and development.
John Sickles called him B+ prospect before last season, when Zimmerman pitched 100 AA innings to a 1.2 WHIP at age 22.
That lines up more with Ivan Nova or Zack McAllister than with Hughes.
The lineup is strong enough as is, that I wouldn’t trade away more of our pitching depth for a left fielder, even though Willingham is under team control through 2011.
"Have faith in the Yankees, my son. Think of the great DiMaggio."

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